Dear Deputy Minister, on December 24, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention. How does the Deputy Minister evaluate the significance of this special event?
- Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung: This is an event of historical significance, marking the first time the international community has achieved a global legal framework to deal with crimes using information technology and cyberspace. The Convention is an important legal basis for countries to internally legalize international standards, while increasing cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, building a safe, reliable and healthy digital environment, and promoting sustainable development.
The United Nations chose Hanoi as the location for the Opening Ceremony of the Convention, affirming Vietnam in the group of leading countries in the world in terms of peace, stability and the increasingly high role and position of Vietnam in the international arena. With the name "Hanoi Convention", for the first time a place in Vietnam is associated with a global multilateral treaty in a field that the international community is particularly interested in; showing the trust of the United Nations and the international community in the consistent stance of promoting international law, as well as Vietnam's capacity, commitment and active participation in solving global challenges.
As Head of the Steering Committee for the preparation for the signing ceremony, can you provide more specific information about the leadership and direction so that the signing ceremony of the Convention can achieve comprehensive results, both in terms of content, security, safety and reception, diplomacy?
- Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung: Clearly identify the significance and importance of the Convention Opening Ceremony; since the beginning of 2025, the Ministry of Public Security has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently, methodically and synchronously implement all aspects of preparation for the Convention Opening Ceremony in Hanoi. As early as May 2025, General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member, Minister of Public Security, signed the Decisions to establish a Steering Committee and a Working Group to assist the Steering Committee in preparing to organize the Opening Ceremony of the Convention, with the participation of leaders of the Ministry, competent authorities of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Cyber Security Association. The Steering Committee has issued a key work schedule to prepare for the Opening Ceremony of the Convention with more than 30 specific tasks; clearly assign the presiding agency, coordination, and completion time for each work.
Under the regular and close leadership of the Party and State, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly work, exchange, and direct specialized agencies and request the National Cyber Security Association to review and promote the progress of preparations to organize the opening ceremony of the Convention; proactively discuss, closely coordinate and agree with UNODC on preparation work. Up to now, all aspects of preparation have been basically completed, with the goal of ensuring 3 successes: "Success in content, success in ensuring security, safety, promoting hospitality and diplomacy; success in promoting the image, identity, country and people of Vietnam to international friends".
More specifically, regarding the work of ensuring security and safety for the signing ceremony, the comrade repeatedly emphasized: absolutely do not let sudden, unexpected things happen, do not let even the smallest mistakes happen. How has the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security specifically directed this task for the Public Security of units and localities, comrade?
- Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung: In organizing important political and foreign events of the Party and State, the issue of ensuring absolute security and safety is always a top priority. As early as February 2025, the Ministry of Public Security has held a conference to disseminate and deploy the work of ensuring security and order at national events and major international conferences held in Vietnam in 2025, including the Hanoi Convention signing ceremony. In May 2025, the Ministry of Public Security established the Security and Order Subcommittee, issued a Master Plan to ensure security and order at the Opening Ceremony of the Convention; identified key tasks and assigned very specific responsibilities to the Public Security of more than 30 units and localities; established a mechanism for directing, commanding, and closely coordinating between units.
Up to now, the police of relevant units and localities have established Steering Committees, issued and urgently deployed about 100 plans and solutions to ensure security and order, with the consistent goal of proactively preventing, stopping, and neutralizing early and from afar, from the basis of factors and risks affecting security and safety throughout the preparation and organization of the Convention opening ceremony, not allowing sudden or unexpected events to occur in accordance with the guiding policies and viewpoints of the Party and State.
With the Hanoi Convention Opening Ceremony, how does it once again affirm the core role, capacity and prestige of the Ministry of Public Security in participating in the organization and contribution to the overall success of large-scale multilateral events of the country?
- Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung: The opening ceremony of the signing of the Hanoi Convention is a multilateral foreign event of the Summit nature, with profound international political and legal significance. The successful organization of the event is a common responsibility of the entire political system, demonstrating Vietnam's proactive, positive and responsible role with the United Nations and the international community in building a safe, healthy global network environment with the rule of law.
The Ministry of Public Security is trusted by the Party and State leaders to play a core role, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise competent authorities to approve and organize the implementation of the Project to organize the Opening Ceremony of the Convention, not only demonstrating the recognition of the Party and State for the capacity, bravery and experience in organizing multilateral activities of the People's Public Security force, thereby continuing to affirm the prestige and position of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in the international arena. With experience in successfully organizing ASEAN Ministers' conferences on transnational crime prevention and control, intergovernmental events within the framework of AIPA, inter intergovernmental organizations, ASEANPOL, and a series of thematic international conferences, the Ministry of Public Security is confident that it will successfully complete the tasks assigned by the Party and State, contributing to enhancing the position and image of the country, spreading the message of a proactive Vietnam, linking responsibility and action for a safe cyberspace.
The Hanoi Convention not only demonstrates its historic role in international cooperation against cybercrime but is also expected to open up great opportunities for investment in cyber security in Vietnam. How do you evaluate this special opportunity more specifically?
- Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung: The signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention is not only a political and legal milestone of global significance, but also opens up a "golden opportunity" for Vietnam to attract international investment in the field of cyber security - a pillar of the security industry, of strategic and vital significance to the national digital transformation process. On October 25 and 26, 2025, in addition to the signing ceremony of the Convention, Vietnam and other countries, international organizations and regions are expected to organize over 50 sideline events, exhibitions specializing in cyber security and information technology, with the participation of many large enterprises and technology corporations around the world.
I believe that, with the prestige of hosting the Opening Ceremony of the Convention and market potential and synchronous policies, Vietnam can completely break through, becoming a leading center for investment, research and development of cybersecurity solutions in the region. The Hanoi Convention is an important lever to realize this strategic goal.
